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The North Bank road in N scale 4' x 6' layout

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Posted by kevinrr on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 7:57 PM

Yes, that was the wrong page (sorry!). I edited the link above for thread history.

I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the kit price. But, if I intended to build a LOT of turnouts the jigs would be an excellent investment.

Instead I downloaded turnout templates to be printed, and the turnouts built directly on the printed templates. Here's a  long-winded but still excellent tutorial on the subject.

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Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 8:19 PM

Interesting, thank you for sharing. I'll also go check out Micro engineering's switches.

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

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Posted by Texas Zepher on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 8:53 PM

A general comment about the direction this is going.   It might be a way to gain a little more space and make it more interesting scenically if the divider is not straight square across the space but put at an angle. 

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Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 8:55 PM

Texas Zepher

A general comment about the direction this is going.   It might be a way to gain a little more space and make it more interesting scenically if the divider is not straight square across the space but put at an angle. 

what degree would you recommend Texas? 

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

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Posted by SpaceMouse on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 11:13 PM

Burlington Northern #24
what degree would you recommend Texas? 

 

I think it might depend on everything else. 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

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Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Thursday, May 2, 2013 12:00 AM

placement of everything else?

I was looking at ME C55 switches they're expensive but would they be worth it? 

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

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Posted by Paulus Jas on Thursday, May 2, 2013 2:31 AM

Hi Gary,

a few years ago I made two plans for a 6x4 sheet; one HO the other in N-scale. In HO the Yule Central was modified.

Inspired by the HO Delaware & Hudson (Model Railroad Planning 2006 and 102 Realistic Track Plans #22) I made an N-scale version; just to explore passenger train running.

North Bank would be more urban with 4 story town buildings, while River Junction would stay rural.

Paul 

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Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Thursday, May 2, 2013 9:16 AM

your passenger track came out to 42" long right?

I think I'm going to do a tiny bit more chopping. I'll modify the plan a little bit more. 

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

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Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Thursday, May 2, 2013 12:15 PM

I'm going to check how long 40' MTL cars are in inches, then measure other cars the longest car I own is a 5 unit Well car set.

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 2, 2013 12:43 PM

Gary,

just a few remarks to your plan:

  • Lining all the track neatly alongside the edges of your layout will create an artificial, less prototypical or "organic" look of your layout
  • The turntable will eat up more space than you will have on that layout. The lead to the turntable should not act as a yard lead - the way you have drawn it, you won´t be able to pull out more than just 1-2 cars out of the yard.
  • Do you really need a turntable - I know it is an eye catcher, but in the Diesel era you can go without it.

Look at Pauls plan - it is a good balance between track & scenery!

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Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Thursday, May 2, 2013 1:42 PM

Sir Madog

Gary,

just a few remarks to your plan:

  • Lining all the track neatly alongside the edges of your layout will create an artificial, less prototypical or "organic" look of your layout
  • The turntable will eat up more space than you will have on that layout. The lead to the turntable should not act as a yard lead - the way you have drawn it, you won´t be able to pull out more than just 1-2 cars out of the yard.
  • Do you really need a turntable - I know it is an eye catcher, but in the Diesel era you can go without it.

Look at Pauls plan - it is a good balance between track & scenery!

Oh, I just re examined it I thought he eliminated my station tracks. *facepalm* he left them out so that I could focus on the upper area. Ok, I think Paul has nailed what I need for the Vancouver side down to the letter. Paul did you use flex or sectional track for the vancouver side on your track designing program? 

As for the roundhouse, well I'll be running steam(only a couple engines though) the engines I was planning on having in there was a light mountain, I will get a GN Mikado, and I will see what other wheel arrangements I will need for an SP&S loco to sit in the roundhouse. 

thank you for having me re examine it, I have one question though for the three track yard how long are those tracks? will they be long enough to store coaches? if not I could stub end it on all of the tracks other than the one leading to the roundhouse would that also be a viable option? 

I can also shorten turnouts to save space like in the N scale insights a couple issues ago.

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

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Posted by SpaceMouse on Thursday, May 2, 2013 2:07 PM

You don't always have to have a roundhouse with a turntable.  It is the roundhouse that is the space killer. 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

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Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Thursday, May 2, 2013 2:15 PM

SpaceMouse

You don't always have to have a roundhouse with a turntable.  It is the roundhouse that is the space killer. 

I know, but I bought it and built it a couple months ago. I was going to eliminate some of the tracks around it and possibly shift both of them to the left so I could have a small parking lot for employees and engine crews alike. as well as there being a roundhouse in vancouver. 

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

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Posted by lone geep on Thursday, May 2, 2013 2:43 PM

If you would like to keep your roundhouse, why not build an extension off to the side and have it on that so it doesn't hog space on the main part? That way, you can have all your locomotive servicing on a separate module and would be easier to work with leaving you more room on the 4X6.

Lone Geep 

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Posted by galaxy on Thursday, May 2, 2013 2:55 PM

If you want to keep the roundhouse, why not make most of your layout a engine servicing facility? A small yard with the roundhouse,,not ALL tracks HAVE to lead to the roundhouse,,,some can just radial off the TT to dead ends for open air loco 'storage".

You could still ring it with a loop if you wanted continuous running, BUT:

I have a concern. I know how big some of the larger radius of curves Can get...it can take up a large space just for a circle OR oval...have you considered that? What radius did you say you wanted?

{ponders}

Geeked

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

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Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Thursday, May 2, 2013 3:15 PM

to answer both suggestions: Building an extension would be great unfortunately, the space for the layout is all the space that's allowed.

I've been pondering it and I can give space away space on the Pasco side because I was going to have a small yard there. all I'd need is the yard to be at least 3 tracks wide or in an effort to save space and better represent the SP&S main the pasco side can become a main and passing siding running parallel to the columbia, with detailing in the fore and background. the minimum radius is 18.75, I love my passenger trains.  

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

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Posted by zstripe on Thursday, May 2, 2013 3:30 PM

Gary,

With all due respect,,,,shelve,the idea of the turntable and roundhouse,for now.. You said you love your passenger trains,I believe the plan,#22,would be great for passenger,the one Paul,posted... It is only ''My Thought''....

Cheers,

Frank

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Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, May 2, 2013 3:32 PM

I've been watching your thread BN #24, cool little project,  just thought I'd jump in with a track planning tool I used, kind of a full size type of planning guide,  I made cardboard cutt-outs of various track elements by tracing around the actual turn out, etc, that I would be using, and used them as a guide as to what might work, and kind of "mock-up" an idea I wanted to try with out, before I started to actually lay the track.  For the different  radius  templates, I made a compass from pieces of 3/4" x 3/4" wood, with a thumb screw holding them together at one end, and taped a pencil on one "leg" and a nail on the other, then just used a tape measure to set what ever radius I wanted.  Here's a couple of pics while I was in the planning stage, showing a few of the templates:

It worked for me,  helped me work out some yard and industry track arrangements, and just what would fit in a given area. It might seem old fashioned, considering all of the available track planning programs around but it gave me a "full-scale" look at what I wanted to do.  I kept the compass and templates, as I'll be using them again this coming winter ( not that it needs to hurry, still waiting for spring in a lot of WI) when I add on a staging yard and balloon track, and maybe another industry or two.

I really like your idea / project,  especially when you posted that picture of a train running along the Columbia River.

Mike.

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Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Thursday, May 2, 2013 4:00 PM

zstripe

Gary,

With all due respect,,,,shelve,the idea of the turntable and roundhouse,for now.. You said you love your passenger trains,I believe the plan,#22,would be great for passenger,the one Paul,posted... It is only ''My Thought''....

Cheers,

Frank

#22? I was going to have the roundhouse literally next to the turntable. I guess I could shelve it and save it for a different project maybe an actual layout that's bigger than 4' x 6'.  In it's place I could have a big passenger station errrr. atleast part of one... well shoot... 

Mike, thank you for your interest. Yeah that's why I've been bugging atlas for turnout dimensions so I can try and figure out exactly what amount of space they'll eat. 

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
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Posted by zstripe on Thursday, May 2, 2013 4:27 PM

Paulus Jas

Hi Gary,

a few years ago I made two plans for a 6x4 sheet; one HO the other in N-scale. In HO the Yule Central was modified.

Inspired by the HO Delaware & Hudson (Model Railroad Planning 2006 and 102 Realistic Track Plans #22) I made an N-scale version; just to explore passenger train running.

North Bank would be more urban with 4 story town buildings, while River Junction would stay rural.

Paul 

Gary,

This is what I was referring to,

Frank

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Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Thursday, May 2, 2013 4:33 PM

oh, maybe. I'm gonna need some time to think this over, I feel like this layouts going backwards farther than it is forward...

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, May 2, 2013 4:39 PM

I think that's a neat little plan, too.  Maybe have the river run with the divider on one, or both sides, to give the "riverside running" feel, and use some "forced perspective" ideas with the scenery between the river and the divider backdrop painting to add to the depth.

Mike.

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Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Thursday, May 2, 2013 4:46 PM

The reason I'm so wary of that though is that I want something to call my own, I know I can take his track plan and add my creative license but is it really mine?  

I'm gonna keep thinking this over and making some adjustments. 

Galaxy in the cork or any roadbed in general thread you mentioned WS risers, I was thinking of getting the lowest ones and and making a small bridgeand getting a level piece so the main is elevated along the river. 

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, May 2, 2013 9:12 PM

Burlington Northern #24

The reason I'm so wary of that though is that I want something to call my own, I know I can take his track plan and add my creative license but is it really mine?  

I'm gonna keep thinking this over and making some adjustments. 

I can certainly understand that.  Can you use the track you already have for size and shape dimensions to aid in the designing of this layout? I would think what you use now would be close enough for design puposes.  I guess I would use a scaled drawing, (you know, good old scale ruler, drawing board, compass for radiues, etc ), maybe track mock-ups, whatever works, and do your design.  Maybe get the track plan down, just the way you want it, and operationally possible, and figure out from there how to add in the divider.  Maybe it would work best on an angle, or maybe curved, or a "dog-leg" type with a couple of angles.   I think you have a good random sampling of input from all those that are interested, and you are the one that knows what you want, and make it work.  I'm anxious to see what you come up with!

Have fun designing!

Mike.

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 3, 2013 12:02 AM

Burlington Northern #24

oh, maybe. I'm gonna need some time to think this over, I feel like this layouts going backwards farther than it is forward...

If I were French, I´d say "aux contraire, Monsieur!" OK, we dump a lot of good advice over you, which is sometimes hard to digest, but that´s called learning curve.

Take your time to develop a layout design which you´ll like. It is time well spent - after all, a layout will cost you some $$$ and time, which you want to see invested into something finding your own appreciation.

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Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Friday, May 3, 2013 12:56 AM

yeah, I'll do a 1:1 scale version of my trackplan. my not to scale one seems to be getting me into more trouble than it's worth. it'll take me a bit though a family issue has arisen. I'm going to do some rearranging, my track should be here tomorrow or saturday, I've contacted atlas.

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
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Posted by zstripe on Friday, May 3, 2013 3:46 AM

Gary,

I am saying this to be ''Funny'' so please,don't take it to heart... You by any chance related to,,Brett Fayre???

LOL,,,,

Cheers,

Frank

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Posted by galaxy on Friday, May 3, 2013 7:10 AM

Gary, you may be beyond this stage, maybe not, but you can always acquire some of the track you think you need in various size R cuves, straight pieces  and switches, and COPY them on a copier/scanner/printer to get a template of what they look like and with accurate dimensions.

Then tape them down in place on your board to see what fits where.

Its  a bit crude, but works to give you a  life-sized layout plan with buying/wasting too much track.

That is how I determined what all I could fit in my HO scale 3.5 x 5.1 foot layout.

Geeked

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, May 3, 2013 7:14 AM

Burlington Northern #24
The reason I'm so wary of that though is that I want something to call my own, I know I can take his track plan and add my creative license but is it really mine?  

No one is going to care if you use this plan. This is not school and you will not be arrested for plagiarism or copyright infringement.  Hell, I'm sure Paul will be flattered.

There are so many aspects to this hobby that by the time you get the track laid, this layout will be your own.  

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 3, 2013 7:26 AM

Gary - don´t be afraid of using someone else´s track plan for your own layout. It´ll be your layout anyway, as there is much more to a well built layout than just the track plan. You care in building the scenery, placing the structures and detailing the whole thing will add your personal flavor, making it your layout!

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